Arrival Instructions

Urbana 12 is almost here! Here's what you need to know when you get to St. Louis.

How Are You Getting to St. Louis?

Flying

You can take the St. Louis Metro train from the airport to your hotel. A single one-way ticket purchased at the airport costs $4. If you are staying at a hotel near a Metro stop, you may want to ride the Metro daily to the America’s Center. Check out info on the discounted rate week-long Metro pass.

Riding a Charter Bus

Follow the instructions of your Bus Leader for arrival and departure. No luggage is allowed inside the America’s Center, so you should check-in to your hotel prior to checking-in to the conference.

Driving

There is limited public parking (for a fee) near the America’s Center. Call your hotel ahead of time and ask about parking rates. If you’re commuting, make sure you know where the lots around the America’s Center are and how much they cost so you can plan accordingly. Learn More about downtown St. Louis, including parking options. You also may be close enough to walk to the America’s Center from your hotel.

Metro Wristband Offer

If you are staying at the Sheraton City Center, Westin St. Louis, Courtyard by Marriot, Drury Inn Union Station, Marriot Union Station, or Pear Tree Inn Union Station, you are about one mile from the America’s Center. You have the choice to walk or ride the Metro to get to and from the America’s Center each day. The city of St. Louis, the Metro, and Urbana 12 have partnered to offer a discounted ride pass (wristband) valid for the entire conference from December 27 to January 1.

The wristband sells for $19 and comes with a $5 cash rebate you can redeem at the America’s Center, bringing final cost to $14. This wristband allows you to travel on all trains, buses, and trolleys for the length of the conference. You can purchase the wristband at the St. Louis Lambert Airport (cash only) or at the America’s Center Metro Office December 27-31 (cash, check, credit/debit card).

Check-In and Payment

At Your Hotel First

Check in to your hotel before coming to the America’s Center. If you do not have a hotel reservation yet, you can contact St. Louis downtown hotels directly to make a reservation. If you are looking for a roommate, you can still access the roommate finder located on your Personal Urbana Page (PUP).

Hotel check-in times are usually 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. If you arrive and your sleeping room is not ready, ask to store your luggage with the Front Desk or Bell Desk until your room is available. Luggage is prohibited at the America’s Center, so plan to store your luggage as needed.

After arriving at your hotel, make your way to the America’s Center Complex, 701 Convention Plaza, St. Louis.

Conference Check-In at the America’s Center

Conference check-in opens at 10:00 a.m. on December 27 at the America’s Center and select Track Hotels. Please bring a photo ID and your Urbana ID number to check-in. Your Urbana ID number can be found on your PUP or in the email you received when you registered.

If you are in the Urban Poverty Track or Business Changing the World Track or not participating in a track, check-in at the America’s Center starting at 10:00 a.m. on December 27. All other tracks may check-in at your Track hotel if you paid in full by December 14. If you are not paid in full you must check in and pay your balance at the America’s Center.

InterVarsity/USA Student Leadership Track and Inter-Varsity Canada Student Leader Track will check-in for Urbana 12 at the Millennium Hotel St. Louis at the basement level.

The International Student Track will check-in at the Hyatt Regency at the St. Louis Arch on the second level.

The Pastors and Church Leaders Track will check-in at the Renaissance Grand on the Mezzanine Level.

If you are in one of these tracks and are not paid in full, you must check-in at the America’s Center. If you prefer to check-in at the America’s Center, you may do that too.

Urbana 12’s first general session starts at 7:30 p.m. on December 27 in the Edward Jones Dome (America’s Center Complex). If you registered for the Urban Poverty Track, the first track session begins December 27 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in America’s Center room 220 and 221.

Help Us Help You–Please Pay Your Balance

Provide yourself with a smooth and simple check-in at Urbana 12 by paying your balance in full before arriving in St. Louis. To do so, log into your Personal Urbana Page (PUP) on urbana.org. Urbana accepts credit cards or debit cards t but is no longer accepting checks. Checks mailed to the Urbana Registrar after receiving this email will not be processed and another form of payment must be provided onsite.

If you plan to pay by check, please go to the Payments area when you check-in at Urbana 12. Checks should be made payable to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Include your name and Urbana ID number in the memo line of the check. Only US funds are accepted.

Important Alert for Minors

Send in Minor Release Forms

If you are under 18 years of age, send in your Minor Release Form with your parent’s or guardians’ signature. You should have received the form by email when you registered. Send via email urbana12.information@intervarsity.org or by fax 608.274.7882. Also bring a copy of the signed form with you to Urbana. You will not be able to participate in Urbana until your form is received. New forms can be found here.

Prayer at Urbana

Urbana’s prayer team has been praying for you since last year! During the Conference, the intercessor team will be praying for you day and night. You will find several opportunities to experience prayer at Urbana. Visit the Worship Room (America’s Center 124) to spend time in adoration, the Prayer Ministry Room (AC 130) to receive support in prayer, and the Missional Prayer Room (AC 127) to come and intercede for missions. The Lord is preparing a space to meet you at Urbana!

Urbana Offering

You will have an opportunity to contribute to God’s work in the world through the Urbana offering. The Urbana offering will be distributed to several organizations that are advancing God’s kingdom globally. More information about these organizations and their work will be provided on-site. Take time to pray and plan for your part in this effort to be a generous community.

Questions?

Please contact us if you have any questions. Though the Urbana Infoline is keeping very busy, we will make every effort to get back to you before the conference. But if we don’t, we’re confident we can take care of your needs onsite! 608-443-3700 or urbana12.information@intervarsity.org.